HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- Sophomore first baseman Charles Savite was 4-for-7 with six RBIs to lead the Moravian College baseball team to a Landmark Conference doubleheader sweep at Juniata College Tuesday afternoon, taking the first game 14-0 and the nightcap 13-4, to extend the team's winning streak to nine straight games.
The Hounds, now 15-4 overall and 7-1 in Landmark action after winning their seventh straight Landmark outing, have scored more than 10 runs in three consecutive games and eight of 19 games this spring. Moravian's nine-game winning streak is its longest since a 15-game streak in 2011.
This afternoon, the Greyhounds jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the opener. Savite began the scoring with an RBI single while junior outfielder Justin Pilchman connected on a two-RBI single. Senior outfielder Joseph Connell finished off the inning with another RBI single.
Moravian extended the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third when Savite led off with a hit and scampered home from first on a double by senior designated hitter Matthew Gutkes.
The Hounds tacked on five runs in the top half of the fourth for a 10-0 advantage. Junior outfielder Matt Hanson cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple, the eighth of his career to move into sole possession of fifth place in the Moravian record books. Hanson scored on an RBI grounder by Savite, and Pilchman drove in his third run of the game with an RBI single.
Moravian finished of the scoring in the opener with four runs in the top of the sixth. Freshman outfielder Cedar McCredie hit a bases loaded RBI single while freshman outfielder Anthony Gaetaniello followed with an RBI ground out. Sophomore catcher Mike Roethke drove in the final two runs with a double down the left field line.
The Hounds finished the first game with a 19-3 advantage in hits with Hanson leading the way with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Pilchman, Savite, Roethke, Gutkes, junior shortstop Colin Case and junior first baseman Kyle Spence all added two hits in the win.
Freshman Nicolas Ampietro and sophomore Tommy Natale-Drown combined on a three-hit shutout on the mound for the Greyhounds. Ampietro moved to 2-1, allowing three hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts in five innings of action. Natale-Drown struck out two of the six batters he faced over the final two innings.
In the second game, Juniata was the team to score in the first inning as the Eagles took a 2-0 lead. Moravian would cut that lead in half in the top of the second inning when junior designated hitter Joey DiSarno connected on a two-out RBI single.
The Hounds took their first lead of the second game in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs. Savite tied the contest with an RBI single, and he scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double off of Gutkes' bat. The Eagles tied the game back up at 3-3 in the home half of the third.
Moravian broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good. Connell raced home with the go-ahead run while senior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger stole second base. Hanson drove in the eventual game-winning run with an RBI single before Savite connected on a two-RBI triple.
The Hounds added three runs in the top of the sixth for a 10-3 lead. Savite picked up his fourth RBI of the game on an RBI ground out, and Moravian's other two runs scored on an error on a ball hit by Gutkes.
The Greyhounds pushed three more runs across the dish in the top of the seventh with Case, Hanson and Spence each hitting RBI singles. The Eagles would finish the scoring in the bottom of the seventh with a run.
Moravian had 13-9 edge in hits in the second contest with Case going 3-for-5. Hanson, Savite and junior third baseman Ryan Luke each went 2-for-4.
Senior Thomas Mariano picked up his first win of the year on the hill, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks to go with six strikeouts in six innings. Sophomore J.J. Jordan tossed the final inning with a strikeout, two hits and an unearned run.
Moravian will look to extend its winning streak to double digits on Wednesday, April 2 when the squad welcomes Haverford College to Gillespie Field for a non-conference game. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.
